High Sierra Permaculture

Below is a snapshot of our "big picture" for using the Sierra Hot Springs property for High Sierra Per-maculture (HSP) programs, projects and workshops. We realize that this will need to be refined and while it is a multi-year vision, we expect to start slow and implement sustainably (one of the permaculture principles is "thoughtful and protracted observation"). We believe that accountable, sustainable business and operating practices will economically benefit and enrich Sierra County while honoring, protecting, preserving, and restoring this native and historic treasure. We believe in assuming responsibility for maintaining the availability of natural resources for present and future generations through ecologically sound production and consumptions.

While we envision a cutting-edge eco-destination, we have absolutely no desire to compete with elegant spas or fancy resorts. We envision operating with a very low impact on the resources of the existing communities. We choose to instead protect and enhance these resources and help communities become more self-reliant and self-sustainable by producing for themselves as many as possible of the goods and services necessary for the maintenance of the communities. Using sustainable principles and practices of permaculture we envision working as an educational center with cottage industries to promote:

Conservation and learning:

Honoring, preserving and inviting indigenous culture, heritage and participation

Organic, year-round, locally produced food (greenhouses heated with geo-thermal)

Recycling and composting

Clean energy and renewable fuels (wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, biodiesel, ethanol, etc.)

Public Transportation using clean energy and renewable fuel

Sustainable construction (green and natural building: strawbale, cob, adobe, cordwood, and other sustainable building techniques that include passive solar designs)

Wilderness Tracking and other wilderness programs

Fish restoration

Sustainable forestry

Protecting water as a public good and an essential public trust resource and protecting water qual-ity for all (safe and clean rivers, groundwater and drinking water)

Beauty, art and music

Community service and accountable economic development

Worker-owned, local, cooperatives and businesses

Natural and holistic therapies for spa treatments and of course... keeping the incredible healing hot springs available to the public!

HSP shall be participatory to the fullest extent possible with the surrounding communities, with general public forums to allow the consideration and input on all substantial policy decisions affecting those communities.